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Google Earth Tour Basics

Setting Up:
  • Create a Google Earth folder in your Z: drive
  • Put all your pictures in that folder
  • Simplify the names of the pictures, if possible
  • In Google Earth, create a folder for your project by doing the following:
    • Right-Click on My Places and select Add: Folder…
    • Name your folder (e.g., Geography Tour)
    • Be sure Allow this folder to be expanded is checked, but Show contents… is not checked
    • Click [OK]
Returning to Google Earth to Work on Your Project:
  • When you re-open Google Earth, check to be sure your work from your last session is still saved
  • IF your work is not there, re-load it from your back-up by doing the following:
    • File menu: Open…
    • Navigate to your Google Earth folder in your Z: drive
    • Select and open your most recent backup file
    • Open this KMZ file (using the + sign button to the left of its name)
    • Drag your folder to My Places
General Navigation:
  • Double-Click on the Placemark name in the Places panel to “fly” to that location
  • Change the magnification of the screen by scrolling the mouse wheel
    or by using <Ctrl> <Up Arrow> or <Ctrl> <Down Arrow>
  • Shift the map right, left, up, or down using the arrow keys on the keyboard
To Add a Placemark:
  • Be sure your folder is selected (by clicking once on it)
  • Click the [Add Placemark] button ( )
  • The placemark will be added to the center of the screen—drag it to the desired location
  • Edit the name
  • Modify the Description, Style, Color, View, and Altitude, if desired
  • Click [OK]
To Edit a Placemark:
  • Right-Click on the placemark icon and select properties
  • Modify the properties, as desired
  • Click [OK]
To Enter Blank Lines in the Description:
  • Use one or more <br> “tags”
  • E.g., the following text:
    Line 1 <br>
    Line 2 <br><br>
    Line 3

    Would display like this:
    Line 1
    Line 2

    Line 3


To Attach a Picture to a Placemark:
  • Collect your pictures and save them in a folder in your Z: drive
  • Right-Click on the placemark icon and select properties
  • In the description, type:
    • <img src = "Z:\My Pictures\picturename.jpg">
      … where X:\My Pictures is the name of the folder that includes your pictures
      … and picturename.jpg is the actual name of your picture
    • If the picture is too big, you can specify its width, in pixels
      • E.g., <img src = "Z:\Google Earth\picturename.jpg" width="200">
  • Separate multiple pictures with <br>
  • Click [OK]
To Attach a Link to a Web Page to a Placemark:
Setting up and Playing a Tour of Placemarks:
  • If your placemarks are not in your folder, drag them into the folder
  • Set tour options using Tools menu: Options…: Touring tab
    • Set Tour Speed
    • Set Tour Pause
    • Check Show balloon when tour is paused
  • Select the folder with your placemarks (by clicking ONCE on it)
  • <Ctrl><Alt><T> to turn off the toolbar
  • Turn off the Compass, Status Bar, and Navigation Tool
    • View menu: Compass
    • View menu: Status Bar
    • View menu: Show Navigation: Never
  • View menu: Full Screen (or <F11>) to turn on full screen mode
  • <Ctrl> <Alt> <P> to play your tour
  • To stop following the tour:
    • <F11> to exit full screen mode
    • Click the [Stop Tour] button ( ) at the bottom of the Places panel
  • When done:
    • <Ctrl><Alt><T> to turn on the toolbar
    • View menu: Compass
    • View menu: Status Bar
    • View menu: Show Navigation: Always
Deleting Placemarks and Folders:
· Right-Click the placemark or folder and select Delete
Backing Up Your Work as a KMZ File:
  • Be sure everything you want to save is in a well-named folder in My Places
  • Right-click that folder and choose Save As…
  • Navigate to your Google Earth folder in your Z: drive
  • Edit the File name to include today’s date (e.g., Geography Tour 03-20-09. Note: You can’t use /’s)
  • Click [Save]
Loading a KMZ File:
  • File menu: Open…